CANADIAN DIOCESE: November 27, 2012St Tikhon Church in Waterloo, ON, Marks its Feast Day with a Hierarchal Service

On Sunday, November 18, 2012, the Church of Saint Tikhon in Waterloo, Ontario, celebrated its Patronal Feast of Saint Tikhon, 11th Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. The all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy were headed by His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada with parish rector Priest Eugene Schukin and Deacon Alexander Morin. Subdeacons and readers from across the province traveled to Waterloo to celebrate this feast. The choir was led by Reader Oreshkin. Immediately following Liturgy, a moleben was held in the middle of the Church. The participants of the feast were invited to a trapeza immediately following the moleben. During the trapeza, participants were offered a buffet lunch, a children’s concert with poems, singing, and selected young parishioners were given the opportunity to present their musical talents. A gramata was awarded to Mrs Raisa Ratsen for her endless contributions to the parish. Father Eugene commented that the parish Russian School has grown from eight to twenty-two students. Archbishop Gabriel reminded all participants that parents play a vital role in their children’s development in the Russian Orthodox faith! The clergy thanked all volunteers for their assistance in making this Patronal Feast, a truly remarkable event.